8890 vs. 5680 - Post here while you wait

In the past the biggest (and prehaps only) reason I was even considering the 5680 was the wide angle viewing screen. Since that has dissappeared my desire for the 8890 has grown. The extra weight doesn't bother me, in fact the bigger the better... squeeze those goodies in there!

I like the tv-tuner feature, the raid feature, the large screen, the s-video in and 6-in-1 card reader. Its just more decked out.

Now, if the 5680 came with a drop-dead gorgeous screen. It'd make me think twice...

Re: 8890 vs. 5680 - Post here while you wait

Im getting the 5680 - 16 inch screen doesnt interest me that much - I would rather have a little more battery life - sure I would love the tv tuner - but I have to ask myself "Self - would you actually use that or would it be a novelty" - and I here myself reply "Well self, I guess its just a novelty".

Also I have it on pretty good authority that the 5680 will do your work for you and cook dinner. I think it was in some post here

as with any purchase: list the factors (features of the product) you are comparing side by side and give each a weight value.

I personally chose the 5670 over the 8887 because while I would like to have the wider screen for DVD's I really did not need a TV tuner. If my memory is correct the 8887 configured similiar to the 5670 was 11.5 lbs. compared to 9.5 (same weight at Dell 7500) I WAS USING _ HURRAY>>>>.

Dual battery was a plus in the 5670 not sure if it is available in the 8887. Removable floppy was a plus in the 5670, it's kind of outdated especially with usb drives but I like to have it available if/when I need it else leave it in the desk. I believe the 8887 was + couple hunderd dollars over the 5670.

I am extremelyhappy with the 5670.

I still can't decide, But i'm thinking the 8890 if the price is within $500 of the 8887.

Great idea for a thead

I'm thinking the 5680 purely for price reasons. I'm going to have about 1800 to spend, so I'm hoping to be able to afford a low model 5680... I'll upgrade the procesor and RAM later.... just give me the M10p

I agree with those choosing 5680. I thought that the 88xx series were more like 12 lbs, but it could only be 11. Still, when you plan on carrying it to class, the extra 2-3lbs will make a difference when it's already so heavy. Also, I don't really need raid for gaming and I already have an mp3 player. I also would more than likely not use a tv tuner. For me, the advantage of a 16" screen over the 15" isn't worth the extra money and weight. I only have about $2200 to spend and I want to get a high end 5680, 3ghz processor, 512mb min ram, 60gig 7200rpm hd. That will add up quickly in the 5680. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah for edit...the 5680 will have the dual battery feature like the 5670 which is another plus for college.

EVERYONE seems to miss the fact that the 8890 will have a built-in 5.1 sound decoder, like a Sound Blaster Audigy, while the 5680 will not. Granted, the quality won't be as great as an Audigy, but still, it will be better than the 5680's 2 speaker system with spdif out. That happens to be one of the biggest things keeping me from getting the 5680: the sound simply isn't as good. If they managed to jam the 5.1 sound on the 5680, I'd gladly get one.

8890
raid :>
16" :>

5680
15" :<

Hrmm sound - never really considered it when buying a laptop - I guess its something to consider. Once again I suppose price will be the determining factor. I would rather sacrifice sound for CPU if price become an issue.

PS: I am making the decision that we are officially in "late July" - where the hell is my machine

I'm new...been reading for a while...

I'm probably going with the 8890 depending on price.

What I'm shopping for is top speed components with the largest screen possible.

Battery life and weight aren't important to me...I'm basically getting a desktop replacement for LAN parties. (99% gaming rig).
I'm getting sick of lugging around a 19" monitor.

I agree...it is feeling like "late July" to me too!

I'm going to get the 5680. It's lighter and smaller, plus it has the the dual battery option, and (Hopefully) the wide-angle screen. I don't need the TV-tuner, MP3 player, raid, or onboard 5.1. I use my kick-ass Sennheiser headphones, so 5.1 would kinda be useless.

IT'S LATE JULY ALREADY! WTF SAGER?

Late July/early August is not particularly precise. They won't miss that window til 8/15. Shouting won't help.

My big debate is over...


5680 = 4 pin Firewire
8890 = 6 pin Firewire


A 6 pin Firewire connnection means I don't have to worry about getting power to an external memory card reader.

Heh, I like to be diffrent.



Still there are other factors for me. I am looking at a Sager for use with Image prossessing, mostly Photoshop. Hypertherading as well as the faster FSB and RAM are major pluses for me. Both systems will have those fetures so there is no issue in that regard. RAID would cost me more money, that I don't have, so it is not even up for consideration.

What the actual screens will be like is something that keeps me wondering. Untill it is ready to be ordered we won't know for sure what will be on the systems. I liked the UXGA "Wide Angles" display on the 5670 a lot. It is quite likely that I will have someone looking over my shoulder when I am working on the laptop out in the field on a shoot. I would like to have a screen with good viewing angles so I will have less "off center looks off exposure" viewing.

M-10, Pish! I'd have no problems using the M-9. I will undoubtly play games on this laptop but there is a limit on how high of a resolution I "need" to be able to play a game. I need power for Phtotography not for games so as long as the video card is not shared memory I am basicly happy. Although I am kinda sorta looking forward to HL2

Cost is allways a factor but, we just have to wait and see on that.

In the end I may end up getting the 4670. The 17" screen makes for a nice professional presentation and it is good enough for me at the moement, then again anything would be considering my current system is a P3 450. It is actualy below the minimum recomended specs to run my photo printer much less Photoshop.

Oooh... I forgot about that. I do a whole lot of video editing; will the 4 pin complicate anything, or will I just have to get a new cable?

riddle me this,

the 5.1 sound is only good if you connect external surround sound correct? So if i got some nice headphones.... it wouldnt be any different btwn the 5x and 8x models

im going with the 5680, probably mid-end (not sure about processor, 40 GB, 512 DDR)

I dont really care about 5.1, as i will have headphones. Also, teh TV tuner i heard wasnt that great quality wise. I mean, the 8890 is a laptop, but its really a desktop replacement. Its not really meant for the mobile person, so ppl should usually be in an area where theres a television (hotel, home, coffee shop, etc.)

I remember reading aobut these amazing screens that were on the 5670 or 5660 that sold out and were replaced by LCDs that were not as good. IS the 5680 getting the really nice screen?

still waiting.

As near as I can figure the 2 extra pins are for power. So the 8890 can power a Firewire device but the 5780 with a 4 pin connection could not. So you should be able to use any Firewire device with the 5780 as long as it has an indepentant power plug for it. Then again, I could be wrong. Hopefully someone else here could confirm this.